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 Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 6:04 pm
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The woods had long since overgrown the little village nestled between two mountains. But within the undergrowth a song carried on the wind, drifting through thickets and meadows. It was dark in the forest, the night's stillness cut by the music and the distant howl of wolves. In a gap between two trees, the source of the haunting sound could be found, an apparent female baddie dressed in an elegant dress and little else, dancing as she sang.
There was an ethereal quality to the song that defied understanding, something that went beyond mere voice. A profound sadness and mystery was carried by the sound, though the source of the sadness was unclear. Perhaps it was simply the nature of the song, but it colored the night's air, intrigue and loss bundled up together, cloying as it caught the wind.
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2023 6:46 pm
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Deep within the darkest shadows of the forest lie a monsterous creature, tattered and torn, crouched low to the ground with claws dug into the earth. The faint stench of wet dog fur lingered, stirred up as he scratched at the tracks that he followed for weeks. Ever since the night of the party in the fall, wolves had begun to prance about his woods once more. Perhaps they too sensed a number of powerful beings gathered in one place, just as Enoch had. Were those ignorant beasts capable of such a feat? The disciple had yet to come across a wolf pup that had known anything of use, so he could not be certain. The auras impressed upon him that night stirred up the monster within, for a purpose he dared to assume, and so gave in to his instinctual urges.
A growl escaped his snarling muzzle as he sprang off toward the howls of whining babes. The thought of skinned pups danced through his mind as the beast drove him forward quite recklessly. Tufts of gray fur trailed behind him, matted and ripped free from the thick brush of the undergrowth that raked against his skin. Despite his adrenaline-filled charge, the disciple barreled through the dense woods on a direct path to his target, his focus unhindered by the obstacles before him or the destruction in his wake.
That is, until an unfamiliar sound suddenly snapped his attention elsewhere. While he could not pinpoint a particular source, Enoch slowed his pace from what he believed was still a fair distance away. What -is- that... his mind momentarily clouded by the somewhat wistful melody that grew louder with each step forward, drifting from his original path. The slate colored figure all but disappeared within the overgrown foliage as he edged his way closer to what seemed to be a small village, unknown to him at a glance. Quietly and carefully, the disciple perched on a broken log near the treeline and peered through the leaves, his yellow eyes darting about the trees before focusing on the female who sang and danced in the darkness. As if drawn in by the unique music, the beast watched and listened, his body still and hidden in the shadows.
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2023 10:09 pm
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The siren paused, senses suddenly flaring, the beast within her responding to that of another. Glancing up, Delilah scanned the foliage around her. The village that she sang within was a ruin, hardly recognizable as one save for the eyes of something much older than the young children that seemed so commonplace these days. Something told her that someone had seen her. Was listening to her performance, for better or for worse. As she glanced about, she saw him. A great grey beast of a man, as wild as the woods themselves.
His golden eyes glimmered in the near perfect darkness, and she locked gazes with him for a moment. And then she sang. This time the song carried the curiosity that she felt at greeting the stranger, not a drop of fear within the notes. The song of a Daughter of Cacophony, particularly one so skilled as Delilah, carried emotion upon its wings, and to any but the most powerful might cause one to feel them. However, this stranger stank of power, and her intention was not to deceive him or to manipulate his own emotions. Merely, to convey hers.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:14 pm
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As the song faded into the wind, the sounds of the forest lingered in the distance once again. The deep growl of the Beast within nearly escaped him, rattling in his chest, though the Disciple held it at bay and kept silent. Enoch simply stared as the female surveyed her surroundings, intrigued by her awareness of his presence. There was little effort made to conceal himself after his rush through the woods, the potential bloodlust contained by choice, but few could normally sense him in any such state. The dim light of the moon peeked through the canopy above and illuminated her pale fur as she turned towards him, the shine of her pearls catching his eye briefly. Slowly, he clasped the edge of the jagged log and felt his claws rake against the bark, realizing he was about to be found.
In that moment, violet eyes suddenly met his gaze, causing his face to twist into a feral grin. Interesting... he thought as he raised himself from his perch swiftly, the log cracking from his careless departure. While he straightened himself to his full height, Enoch found himself stilled once more by her voice ringing in his ears, though his expression hardly wavered. The animal within paced in its cage, sensing on the surface that the female before him was no mere mortal, yet unknowing of who or what she might be. Fascination compelled him to step forward, though her song convinced him to refrain from speaking until she took a pause. "Dare I ask, are you lost?" he finally questioned in a deep tone, his fangs sliding into view as his smile widened.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:27 pm
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The wind changed and the elder shifted her stance, feeling the embrace of the earth beneath her feet. He approached and spoke at last. Delilah listened to his words, but even as he spoke a faint smile curled her lips. They were sizing one another up and on instinct alone she knew that he could easily best her. She did not try to best him, however, her countenance full of a genuine serenity. She was at home.
Above, the moon sent a faint dappled light across them both through the trees. At length, she spoke. "No, I am not lost. I am home. Or what was once home, in any case." Once upon a time, this had been a little village on the main path through the woods. At the very edge there had been a tavern and inn. It was there that Delilah was born. Where her very long life had begun. She might be amid ruins in a dark forest, but she was not lost. Here she could never be lost.
But her new companion intrigued her. Within him she sensed a deep power. Something she had rarely experienced, except in the company of her own Disciple. If she had to venture a guess, she supposed that this grey male was at least as strong. But those details were not hers to know. Nor did she care. In the moment, what intrigued Delilah was his poise. Something about him. That he carried himself as if he would burst into action in a moment and yet paused to listen to her song. "I presume you are not lost," she said, not so much a question as a statement.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:47 pm
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Enoch watched closely to gauge her reaction to his words, though he noticed no sign of flinching from her figure. Instead, she seemed rather content within her space, merely acknowledging the fact that she was not alone. Such displays could be seen amongst any animal of the woods and in this moment she was no different, at least to him. The Disciple found himself curious as most creatures would shy away upon his approach even when he would act relatively civil. That thought was interrupted by a snarl of his Beast as it slammed against his mind in an act of defiance. The fur on his arms bristled slightly and he squared his shoulders, but his overall demeanor remained the same.
The brief silence was broken by her words, spoken as a matter of fact with little distinction to any specific emotion. In his experience, he was decent at reading others that could be considered prey, but he was starting to doubt that she would fit into such a category. "Home?" he questioned, glancing around the area while trying to recall any sort of history of the ruins that surround them. This only piqued his interest more just as a slight breeze passed through, seeming to push him another step closer and into the scattered moonlight. "Interesting," he half growled, though it was more of an affirmation to himself as he considered the possibility of another Kindred standing before him. What a surprise, though he was unsure if this could be considered pleasant just yet.
"Ah, no.. I am quite the opposite of lost within this forest." Another step forward had placed him just a few feet from where she stood. A dull shadow of his large frame crept towards her, slowly encroaching on her own silhouette. "This is my home as well, though it hasn't always stretched so far." His words were laced with a hint of.. something that was masked by his clenched teeth and expression. A part of him still longed to continue his hunt, what with the wolves still howling every so often in the distance, but he was now invested in learning more of the stranger in his woods. "You, however, I do not remember. Tell me, what are you called?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:32 am
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His presence crashed over her like a tidal wave, and Delilah stood in perfect stillness as his shadow crept ever closer. It did not occur to the Daughter of Cacophony to be afraid. Nor, in truth, did anything about him give any indication that he was here for violent reasons. They sized each other up in that moment, Delilah noting the wildness within him. The sheer immensity of his being. For it was vast. Not unlike that of an angelique, truth be told... and in that, she supposed, she might have her answer. Yet he remained something of a mystery. A silver glad mystery.
"Yes, this was my childhood home," she told him calmly, aware that she was speaking to another Kindred. He could be nothing else. The fangs. The Beast that seemed to dance just beyond his golden eyes. It called to her. She answered, violet eyes filled with the wilderness around her. "I bid you welcome, then." To his forest. To her village. To the past, to the present... perhaps even to the future, if their acquaintance tended that route.
She cocked her head to the side, a little curious. "My name is Delilah Laveau." Then, briefly, she smiled. "But what I'm called is Delilah." In the background she heard the howl of wolves, something that was more than familiar to her in these parts. There was a pack that ran in the territory and there had been a pack for many years besides. For Delilah, it was background music, the sound of her forest.
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Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2023 1:37 pm
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The imposing shadow of his massive form dissolved into the darkness as clouds danced about the sky, concealing the light of the moon in waves. His golden eyes took on an eerie glow as he quelled his Beast, redirecting its wrath by instead tasking his mind to focus. Not only did he analyze the dense woods surrounding the ruins with his bestial senses, inwardly calling on nearby creatures to alert him of potential interruptions, but also carefully studied the compelling female herself. Realization struck him then as the predator masked behind violet eyes responded in kind, an inkling of aged experience emitting from her control. With her unwavering stance and even tone the Disciple felt somewhat impressed, visible upon his brow for just a flash. Although her singing was the culprit for catching his attention, it was her composure that held his interest in this moment.
At the mention of 'home' and 'welcome' Enoch stifled a growl and crossed his arms in a swift motion, physically rebelling against the territorial response from within. The animal howled in the back of his mind, ready to pounce. Almost daring her to say more. Yet the Gangrel took her words in stride, eying her head tilt with a touch of amusement. His wild grin softened and his expression shifted into one of inquiry as she continued. Even her speech seemed melodic in nature to him, especially so in the reveal of her name.
A sprinkle of moonlight flickered throughout the clearing, highlighting the small smile that played on crimson lips. If only for a short while, the noise of the forest seemed to fade into the background and allowed Enoch a bit of respite. His arms lowered to his sides and an audible smirk escaped him, charmed as she flipped his odd phrasing right back at him. It had been some time since he held any sort of conversation. "Well then," he started, gesturing vaguely to overgrowth while his gaze remained fixed on her. "Welcome home, Delilah. Perhaps.. I.. am intruding." His statement was laced with curiosity, yet spoken with a hint of a taunt as he considered the unusual position he found himself in. Interesting.. he mused once again in a silent pause, his toothy smile slowly returning as he awaited her reply.
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Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:17 pm
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A flicker of something crossed his features for a moment. Was that... perhaps... respect? Delilah could not be sure, not knowing him at all. But she held her ground calmly, as if holding it were as easy as breathing. Something within her told her that this was a mighty man indeed, the soul of the forest breathing through him. Like some ancient tree or a great wild beast that had never before been tamed. She was fascinated. Her violet eyes gleamed with curiosity, having never before met a male of his caliber. The closest being she could conjure up in memory was her Disciple, but even then there were differences.
Hers was the power over music and song. His... remained to be seen. Even Delilah could not at a glance place such a being. Although she did know him for kindred. That much was clear. And an old one, at that. Older than her? Probably. But Delilah was no young thing. She had known this world for many long years, her song echoing through them.
She listened as he spoke, as he welcomed her home... and smiled. "You are, perhaps, but it does not follow that the intrusion is unwelcome." The siren had been singing for no one and abruptly she had had an unwitting audience. Perhaps it was fated so. "I was only singing, after all. I can sing any other time." And she would, for to be a Daughter of Cacophony was to be a musician, a songstress. In her life she had lived and breathed music. In her unlife it wreathed every moment, defining it in a way nothing else could.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 9:40 am
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Since the moment that she laid eyes on him, the Gangrel expected a hint of recoil, possibly aversion to his scarred and brutish frame. Along with fear or perhaps contempt, that was generally what he received from many who crossed his path, understandably so. And yet, there was no such reaction from the figure of grace standing before him. Behemoth... The word echoed in his mind as the Beast taunted him, threatening to let hostility seep through the cracks. You know what you are... Although his eyes narrowed briefly, the Disciple simply shifted his weight and refrained from any such display in light of present company.
Poise was something of a mystery to him, having kept to the wilderness and in seclusion for so long. Delilah seemed almost out of place in these woods, though she reminded him of a time long past in a sense. One in which he found himself peering in to Kindred society, observing but from a distance while hidden in the shadows. Such was the fate of many of his clan. To keep a watchful eye over those of seemingly higher standards and stand guard against potential enemies of the night. While she was certainly unexpected, the Disciple regarded the woman and their interaction as a welcome change of pace.
Within her eyes was the mere reflection of intrigue that he felt, clearly visible as the moon broke free from the clouds. Another smile appeared on her face as her reply drifted through the stillness of the ruins. Despite the instinctual hesitation still lingering in his stance, Enoch relaxed his shoulders and grinned in return. "A kindness you grant me," he stated, his voice still deep but with less of a growl. "I meant not to interrupt, but to seek out the source of the unfamiliar sound. I did not expect such music within this forest" He paused with a slight wrinkle of his brow, realizing he did not state his name in return. "You have yet to ask, but I am called Enoch."
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:06 pm
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From Delilah there was no sign whatsoever that she was put off by the Gangrel. In fact, it seemed much more likely that she was enjoying the encounter. He was a mysterious figure, wild and free in a way few kindred were. There was a certain wild wisdom to him, something that echoed through the ages of the world. He had, she supposed, known these woods for a long time. She wondered if he'd known them when she'd lived in them as a mortal. It seemed possible, and yet she did not ask. For they had neither of them acknowledged their status as kindred, though each undoubtedly knew the other for what they were.
Ah, there was in him a kind of poetry, something that caught the senses. Delilah watched him with curious violet eyes, eyes that had seen many things in the world, but not this one. Not ever before. It was her first time meeting a Gangrel, though she did not know the particular clan from which he sprang. Nor that he was the font of that clan, though she had her guesses. To breathe in such power and age together was something only few kindred could do.
And then he gave her his name, a name that almost seemed to come with the rumble of thunder, the deep tones of his voice entrancing her. There was music in Enoch, whether he knew it or not. A kind of musicality to the way he answered her. As if he was from a time when beauty in speech was valued, as it was not in this one. She shared the value, holding it close to herself like the gift that it was. "Enoch. That name holds some familiarity for me, though I cannot say why." Was he the original Enoch, perhaps? Her voice was almost a song as she spoke. "I am pleased to grant you this kindness, Enoch." She tested his name on her tongue, deciding that she liked it.
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